It would be nice if trusts could be established without a financial cost being attributed to their creation. In reality though, you have to be prepared to spend a little money to protect your assets in a trust. Given this notion, there was a prevailing notion about trusts many years ago that they were only meant for wealthy people who had a lot of money. In a way, this stigma bled into estate plans. People thought they only needed to plan for their wealth if they had a lot of it.
But that simply isn’t true. No matter what your wealth is, you should have an estate plan in place to protect your loved ones — just like you should utilize trusts (if it’s appropriate) to amplify your estate plan and protect your finances for the good of your beneficiaries.
For those that are looking to establish a trust without committing too much money up front, a pooled charitable trust may be a great option. These trusts collect from a number of people who cumulatively contribute to the trust, which is established by a charity. The funds you invest act in the same was as funds in a mutual fund, and can actually result in earnings that are paid to you.
The trust will protect you from taxes and contribute to a charitable cause, all while providing you the security you expect from a trust.
Source: FindLaw, “How to Feel Great While on a Budget – Pooled Charitable Trusts,” Accessed May 16, 2016